We all know the city of Plymouth, Massachusetts as the original home of our modern-day Thanksgiving celebrations.
It was in this seventeenth-century settlement that the Native Americans assisted the pilgrims in learning the basics of how to survive in the New World—and in thanks—in 1621, a year after the colony was established, a feast was shared between the native Wampanoag tribe and the settlers.
Today, Plymouth remains an enchanting historic town that offers visitors a peek into what life was like for the groundbreaking immigrants and Native Americans who shared the land—especially if you’re considering a visit to the town in November!
What to do…
Plimoth Plantation
This replica town of the Pilgrims original landing site in Plymouth has homes and other structures, farmland, and townspeople that all help in creating the experience of a walk through the seventeenth-century village.
Cranberry Bog Tour
This tart fruit is grown all over the bogs of New England, and is harvested just in time for the busy season. Take a tour at any number of locations during the harvest (between early September and late October) and see how this staple on the Thanksgiving table has been harvested for nearly 200 years.
Mayflower II
Though no longer in its first home along the coast of Plymouth, this replica ship of the original vessel that brought the pilgrims to the horn of Cape Cod is docked a short distance away at the Mystic Seaport—and is surely worth the trip.
For a real taste of an old-fashioned Thanksgiving, Plymouth is hard to beat. Whether you’re looking to see how the Pilgrims lived back in 1621, where your favorite turkey day side dish comes from, or to simply enjoy the beauty of New England in autumn, there is something to be enjoyed by all.